Heading into the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals, the San Antonio Spurs took on the upstart Portland Trail Blazers where many thought the Spurs would have a difficult series considering San Antonio was coming off a long seven-game series against Dallas.

But aside from one game, the Spurs manhandled the Blazers in five games, displaying team work, passing and showing the young Blazers what it really takes to play in the postseason.

A lesson learned for Portland, something Blazers head coach Terry Stotts hopes his team soaked in.

Via Sports Mole:

“The fact that San Antonio not only beat us, but how they beat us and how they won the championship I think gave us the motivation to know that there’s a lot for us still to achieve and what we have to do to achieve it.”

Portland is loaded with young talent from Damian Lillard to LaMarcus Aldridge, yet the Spurs showed veteran poise, ball-passing, chemistry and the mental state needed to win a title for the fifth time in club history.

Portland learned it isn’t just raw talent that’s needed to win games. A team needs to be a team.

However, seeing how the Spurs gave the Blazers motivation heading into next season, their matchups should be interesting.